Escape device for derricks



July 27, 1937. D. A. GLOVER v 2,088,514

ESCAPE DEVICE FOR DERRICKS Filed Dec. 5, 1956 fiezwy/Z {Myer NVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented July 27, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The invention relates to a safety device for drilling derricks and more especially to escape devices for derricks.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein a workman at the top of a derrick can escape'therefrom to avoid injury should an oil well catch fire or come in as a gusher or gaser, in that the oil or gas streams upwardly through the well casing and gushes up through the derrick, frequently resulting in fire and thereby placing a man working at the top of the derrick in a hazardous position and without a way of escape through the derrick.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein the same is in the form of a safety carriage suspended from one of the guy ropes of the derrick and adapted to travel thereon for the carrying of a man from the top of the derrick to the ground with a reasonable degree of safety.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein an occupant thereof can readily regulate the speed of travel of said device when carrying a workman to a point of safety from the top of a derrick and thereby eliminating the possibility of the running away of such device while in motion.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and eflicient in operation, light in weight yet strong, durable, and inexpensive tomanufacture.

With these and other objects in View, the 35 invention consists in the features of construction,

combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention and 40 pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a derrick and guy rope showing the device constructed in accordance with the invention carried by said guy rope.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the device.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an elevation partly in section of the brake lever and adjuncts.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates generally a portion of a derrick for oil well operations and B a portion of a guy rope which is attached at a high point of the derrick and at a low point anchored to the ground as is conventional.

The device constituting the present invention comprises a carriage involving a substantially triangular shaped main frame It) effecting spaced sides I I between which is arranged at one corner of said frame a traction pulley I2, its axle l3 being held in opposite sides I I of the frame and this pulley I2 travels upon the guy rope B.

Depending from the frame In starting from the point of arrangement of the axle I3 for the pulley I2 is a hanger fork I4 having fixed to the lowermost portion thereof a stem I5 of a foot stirrup It so that a person when engaging the foot in this stirrup and grasping the fork I4 by the hand. or the frame I 0 at opposite sides ll thereof can readily ride when the carriage travels the guy rope B, access being had to the carriage when the latter is close to the derrick A so as to enable a workman thereon to make an escape therefrom in the use of said carriage.

Swingingly mounted in the frame I0 is a brake lever I! which is pivoted at I8 to said frame and this lever carries a pair of braking rollers II] which are disposed at opposite sides of the rope B for kinking of the latter when the carriage is in motion and in this manner braking the said carriage during the travel thereof when actuating the lever 17.

The frame has a fixed keeper segment or keeper rack 20 engageable by a latching device 2| of the hand release type carried by the lever I! so that the latter can be latched in an adjusted position for the application or release of the brake rollers I9 as will be clearly apparent from Figure 1 of the drawing, the lever I! being in convenient position for quick handling thereof by a person occupying the carriage.

In the use of the carriage when an escape is desired by a person at the top of the derrick A on the occupancy of this carriage and the travel of the same upon the rope B in a direction for a descent such person can be landed close to the ground or at the ground surface and in this manner reasonable safety is assured by the escape of the person from the derrick.

What is claimed is:

In an escape device for derricks having an inclined cable, the combination of a carriage frame provided with spaced sides and a foot stirrup depending therefrom, a pulley wheel journaled in said frame and engageable with the cable, a brake lever connected with the frame and spaced therefrom, a stationary ratchet toothed keeper segment on the connection between the brake lever and said frame, braking rollers carried by the lever and disposed at opposite sides of the cable for kinking the latter on the swinging of said brake lever, and a latching device on the brake lever and engageable with the keeper segments for rocking the lever in adjusted position.

DEWEY A. GLOVER. 

